Just realized that Chytil, Andersson, Hajek, Howden, Day and Gettinger all are on sliding contracts this season. This could benefit NYR in the potential Seattle expansion draft (barring any rule changes).

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Also weird to think that they could all be in Hartford next season, along with Ronning and possibly a kid from this draft.

There's an important distinction to make between guys like Hayes and Vesey and a guy like Gilmour. Hayes and Vesey were guys whose teams WANTED to sign them, but the players themselves chose not to sign and instead went the free agency route. The guys that refuse to sign are usually pretty highly-regarded players, who choose not to sign because they know they'll get a lot of interest. Butcher and Kerfoot this summer for instance. Gilmour was a guy that probably would have taken a contract from Calgary, but the Flames just chose not to sign him.

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And there is another category of guys never drafted like Neal Pionk.

I did a post in the last month of drafted senior NCAA players who had not yet signed and could go the free agency route. I agree with you that some of these guys are highly regarded and are worth seeing if they sign with the team that drafted them.

We could leave them all in Hartford and let them tear up the AHL it’d be better for their confidence to go on a long AHL playoff run rather than a long horrible nhl season

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I know there's this burning desire to get this kids up and in the NHL, and obviously that is the goal. But I look at a guy like Nylander, who went back down for an additional 30 some odd AHL games in his D-2 season, before moving up to the NHL permanently. There's nothing wrong with that.

I could see a situation where the kids come up in a steady procession, when they're ready.

My bet would be Chytil. Lessen his responsibilities on the ice. Let him focus more on his offensive skillset.

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I think Chytil on the wing makes the most sense in an Alain Vignealt system, where the emphasis on skating is primarily at the wing position.

Whether that's the case with our new coach is unclear. The new guy may want a good skating guy like Chytil to play more north-south and carry the puck more than our current centers are asked to (Think Matt Duchene, Matt Cullen style center iceman)

I think Chytil on the wing makes the most sense in an Alain Vignealt system, where the emphasis on skating is primarily at the wing position.

Whether that's the case with our new coach is unclear. The new guy may want a good skating guy like Chytil to play more north-south and carry the puck more than our current centers are asked to (Think Matt Duchene, Matt Cullen style center iceman)

I know there's this burning desire to get this kids up and in the NHL, and obviously that is the goal. But I look at a guy like Nylander, who went back down for an additional 30 some odd AHL games in his D-2 season, before moving up to the NHL permanently. There's nothing wrong with that.

I could see a situation where the kids come up in a steady procession, when they're ready.

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Yeah, like you’ve said, these things are a process and there will be bumps along the way. That’s what 19 and 20 year olds do; they make mistakes and then grow from them. As much as I want our kids to rip the league a new one next year, I still view the next true window as the 20-21 season when Shesty gets a year under his belt. Each kid should he hitting their stride around that time.

Lukko opened their playoff campaign against Assat and lost 2-1. Reunanen--shockingly!--did not play in the game.

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I know we have his rights for another two years, but we have to think about bringing him over at this point.

He doesn't get ice-time where he is, unless he's just not playing well enough to earn it. You have to wonder if the organization might step in this summer and help him go somewhere where he will play. Dressing an getting no ice-time or being scratched isn't going to help him.

IDK about Tarmo. I'm always the "patience" preacher who never writes off anyone. Tarmo is young, and he has been jerked around. He's been jerked around because he's playing in competitive leagues where teams need to win. And he just hasn't produced, even in Mestis. He doesn't produce points and apparently his various teams haven't seen enough defensively to keep him out there. What is he at this point?

He signed for three years with his new club, IIRC. My gut tells me he never signs a deal with us and eventually settles in the NLA or something. Though, we did bring over Calle Andersson for a bit. Who knows.

I would keep Chytil at center unless he fails miserably there, and Andersson/Howden are just wired to be centers.

I'd quicker move Zibanejad or Hayes to wing; but we'll get to that when we do.

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Hayes at wing is terrible. Maybe something will change but I doubt it. If all Chytil/LA/Howden prove themselves at C’s we have to trade Hayes which I wouldn’t want but we’d have to. LA and Howden are natural C’s. Chytil is our only shot at an elite 1C although he’d be the best at wing

Moose Jaw won 2-1 in a SO last night. Howden was scoreless. He did go first in the shootout and scored, which technically goes down as the winner. With the victory, Moose Jaw wins the WHL regular season title.

Gettinger and Soo won the regular season title in the OHL. They have won 53 of their 65 games and are 21 points ahead of the next best team. Playoffs start soon.

Hayes at wing is terrible. Maybe something will change but I doubt it. If all Chytil/LA/Howden prove themselves at C’s we have to trade Hayes which I wouldn’t want but we’d have to. LA and Howden are natural C’s. Chytil is our only shot at an elite 1C although he’d be the best at wing

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I would trade anyone for the right return, but Hayes might be the last Ranger I would look to deal.

Moose Jaw won 2-1 in a SO last night. Howden was scoreless. He did go first in the shootout and scored, which technically goes down as the winner. With the victory, Moose Jaw wins the WHL regular season title.

Gettinger and Soo won the regular season title in the OHL. They have won 53 of their 65 games and are 21 points ahead of the next best team. Playoffs start soon.

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He won 19 of 25 faceoffs. Around 56% for the season which is damn solid